Whiteford leaves it late to secure Grand Final place

Kirkcaldy golfer Peter Whiteford secured the last spot in the Challenge Tour’s Grand Final in the United Arab Emirates next week by less than £620.

The 35-year-old joined Anstruther’s George Murray in the season-ending event after dramatically leaping above Frenchman Edouard Dubois in the penultimate ‘Road to Oman’ tournament in China last week.

Whiteford, who fell off the European Tour 12 months ago, went into the Foshan Open lying one spot outside of the top 45, but he dug deep to close with rounds of 68 and 70 to finish ahead of Dubois in joint-24th on six-under.

With earnings of £26,271, Whiteford extended his campaign instead of facing a trip to the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain next week.

The Wellsgreen pro will hope to claim one of 15 European Tour cards for 2016 up for grabs in Oman next week.